DEVELOPMENT OF ANTHRALIN SHORT-CONTACT THERAPY IN PSORIASIS: SURVEY OF PUBLISHED CLINICAL TRIALS

In a survey of clinical trials concerning the efficacy of short-contact therapy with anthralin in psoriasis vulgaris, focusing principally on methodologic issues, twenty-four papers published between January 1982 and December 1989, in English, French, and Italian, were selected. Nine of 24 papers reported on more than one trial, giving a total of 37 clinical trials to be evaluated. A great heterogeneity was evident in many aspects of the design and conduct of these trials, making pooling of results impossible. Most trials suffered from flaws in general methodologic aspects such as randomization and blinding. Limitations in general applicability of results were discussed with reference to the popular use of self-control design and selection of composite indexes (e.g., PASI) as an outcome variable. Published trials are not a reliable guide to clinical decisions concerning short-contact therapy, and some methodologic observations we made could be of general interest in designing clinical trials of psoriasis.     

Demonstration of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in freeze-dried, paraffin-embedded sections of breast cancer

Immunohistochemical evaluation of oestrogen and progesterone receptors is of importance in evaluating human breast tumours. Staining techniques can be performed on snap-frozen, cryostat-cut tissues or, as recently reported, on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. These methods are, however, limited by several drawbacks, including difficulties in retrospective studies and in storage of the material, and the relatively high frequency of false negative results for chemically fixed specimens. We therefore investigated the application of freeze-drying technology to assess the feasibility and reliability of this technique as an alternative method for diagnostic breast pathology. Morphological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on snap-frozen, freeze-dried and paraffin-embedded tissue obtained from 16 cases of benign and malignant breast neoplasms. Our results showed good preservation of tissue morphology, similar to standard formalin fixation, and excellent preservation of antigenic reactivity of nuclear receptors, comparable to that obtained with cryostat sections. We therefore suggest that freeze drying and paraffin embedding of frozen tissue blocks is equivalent or even preferable to formalin fixation for the demonstration of oestrogen and progesterone receptors, at least in the case of small tumours.     

Immune Lysis of Normal and AET-treated Lymphocytes: A Study by Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy

A morphologic study of normal andAET-treated lymphocytes exposed invitro to cytotoxic antibody and complement (C) has been carried out using bothtransmission and scanning electron microscopy. The abnormalities observed wereof the same kind for the two types ofcell, but they were more marked inAET-treated lymphocytes than in theiruntreated counterparts. These resultsconfirm the serologic finding that AET-treated lymphocytes possess a higherthan normal susceptibility to the damaging action of antibody and C in thelymphocytotoxicity reaction.

Submitted on March 1, 1971 Revised on June 4, 1971 Accepted on June 17, 1971     

Conformation and dynamics of the chemotactic peptide formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine in solution

Several conformational and dynamic features of the chemotactic peptide formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine in solution have been delineated by investigations of NMR and IR spectroscopic parameters. Both 1D and 2D NMR experiments have been performed for detection of scalar and dipolar proton-proton connectivities, whereas ¹³C and ¹H relaxation parameters have been interpreted in terms of molecular dynamics. The main conformation appeared to be unfolded with the three hydrophobic side chains extending in divergent directions with respect to the backbone. The existence of relatively weak inter-molecular hydrogen bonds was demonstrated, involving the formamide end group, with increase in the hydrophobicity of the external surface.     

INTRACELLULAR TRANSDUCING MECHANISMS COUPLED TO BRAIN SOMATOSTATIN RECEPTORS

This review systematically analyses recent knowledge of the biology of somatostatin receptors. Indeed, since the molecular cloning of five somatostatin receptors in 1992, a growing bulk of scientific data has been produced regarding the cell type localization, the physiological role and the biochemical intracellular pathways activated by the single somatostatin receptors.The aim of this review is to present all these data, also discussing the conflicting evidence that has been reported, to further stimulate research efforts in the field.     

Papular clear cell hyperplasia of the eccrine duct in a diabetic

Summary We report a patient with a widespread papular disorder characterized by extensive clear cell hyperplasia of the secretory portion of the eccrine units. A 46-year-old woman had a long history of diffuse papules which gave the skin a 'goose-flesh' appearance. She had severe diabetes. Histological examination of a papule showed marked clear cell hyperplasia that involved the secretory duct of all eccrine units present in the specimen sparing the secretory coil. The clear cells were periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive and Alcian blue negative. Ultrastructural study confirmed that the clear cells contained abundant intracytoplasmatic glycogen. We suggest that the diabetic condition may be important in promoting the accumulation of glycogen in the eccrine ducts. Our patient represents a peculiar disorder of the eccrine units that, on the basis of clinicopathological features, we have termed papular clear cell hyperplasia of the eccrine duct     

FEASIBILITY OF A REGISTRY OF PEMPHIGUS IN ITALY: TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE

Background. There are still unanswered questions about optimal treatment strategies and long-term prognosis of pemphigus. The Italian Group for Epidemiologic Research in Dermatology (GISED) started to register pemphigus in March 1990. Methods. The registry is hospital-based, covering newly diagnosed cases referred to 33 dermatologic centers in the north and the middle-south of Italy. Serum samples were collected at the time of diagnosis, for centralized storage. Results. In the period between March 1990 and December 1991, 110 cases were collected, with 105 retained. Median age at diagnosis was 54, and the man to woman ratio was 0.7. The median lag of diagnosis was 4 months. Seventy-four of 79 patients with pemphigus vulgaris/vegetans and 24 of the 26 with pemphigus erythematosus/foliaceus were given corticosteroid treatment. Conclusions. A hospital-based registry is feasible and provides useful information about both clinical aspects and management of pemphigus, serving as a basis for developing ad hoc research programs (e.g., formal epidemiologic studies and clinical research).